Influencers will do anything for attention. It doesn’t help that the current creator economy incentivizes people to go bigger and bolder, to the point where the line between fantasy and reality becomes blurred. Writer/director Nikolay Sysuev explores this alarming need to capitalize on trends in his short dark comedy Creators.

Like, Subscribe, and Stay Sane

Kieran, an aspiring content creator, learns the hard way that there is no fast track to fame. His YouTube channel “Kieran Does Stuff” struggles to break 100 views per upload, which is a frustrating reminder that his prank videos are clearly not resonating with his audience. Kieran’s desperation for a viral hit reaches its peak when he stumbles across a video of a YouTuber saving a man from jumping off of a bridge. In a twisted way, it is this clip that fills Kieran with inspiration. He convinces himself that, if he can stage a heroic rescue, the algorithm will reward him with not only views, but most importantly, likes.

As luck would have it, Kieran finds himself in a situation where he does in fact save a man’s life. Thrilled with how the optics will look, Kieran excitedly logs onto YouTube to begin creating his next post. However, he soon makes a twisted discovery that forces him to confront a dark thought: is he actually creating the content, or has he become it?

Nightstalker Aesthetic Meets Offbeat Humor

Creators‘ dry and offbeat humor sets the perfect tone for this interpretation of living life for social media. The script, written by Sysuev, is tight and sharp, and delicately finds the balance between a comedy and a thriller. Cinematographer Adam Leene brings the vision to life with cinematic flare, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the visual references included Nightstalker, given Creators gritty and dark aesthetic. As the protagonist, Kieran, Matthew Garry is a captivating leading man.

Director’s Statement

“I hope audiences have fun with it first and foremost. My goal has always been to entertain, but also to leave people with a few uncomfortable questions. We all live in a world where the line between authenticity and performance is becoming increasingly blurred, and I wanted to explore that in a way that feels funny, surprising, and hopefully a little unsettling.

More than anything, I hope the film offers a perspective that audiences haven’t quite considered before. If people leave the screening still debating the characters’ choices, questioning how they might have behaved themselves, or finding that certain moments linger in their minds, then I’ll feel the film has done its job.” – Nikolay Sysuev

Takeaway

Creators is a story that contains a prevalent emotional truth at its core, while remaining a humorous and stark observation of the influencer economy. It’s this layered vulnerability that makes Creators such a compelling and fun watch. The film was selected to screen at the 2026 HollyShorts Film Festival.